We’ve compiled a few hacks that you can try at home to help make the perfect brew.
Scroll down or click these links to discover more. |
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- Kitchen roll to help with consistent grinding. If you do not own a ‘state of the art’ coffee grinder and do not always get a consistent grind size, there is an everyday item you can use to help. Yes, a piece of humble kitchen roll can help improve grinding coffee at home.. Simply pour your freshly-ground coffee onto the piece of kitchen roll and spread it over the sheet then pour the grounds off. The very fine grounds of coffee will be left on the sheet.
Why does this improve the flavour of your coffee? The finer the grind, the more flavour will be extracted. Some grinders leave you with very fine, powder-like particles, amongst the correct size grind – these can cause over-extraction, meaning your cup can have bitter notes.
Want to improve your home grinding? Take a look at our grinders.
Making espresso at home can be done with home espresso machines. Without a machine to create the high-pressure extraction, you cannot fully recreate the unique and bold espresso brew. However, if you’re after the intense flavour of espresso, you can use other brew methods to create this flavour and create a basis for an espresso-based drink.
- Stovetops (moka pots) are perfect for brewing bold cups and are even sometimes referred to as “stovetop espresso makers”. Follow our guide on how to brew a stovetop, and play around with the water:coffee ratio to create the intensity you’re looking for in an espresso.
- AeroPress can make both a nuanced filter cup of coffee, but also great at brewing shorter, more intense shots of coffee. Follow our guide on how to brew an AeroPress, and play around with the water:coffee ratio to create the intensity you’re looking for in an espresso.
- Heat up the milk in a pan or microwave to around 65–70°C (make sure not to overheat the milk), then place in the cafetiere. Push the plunger up and down inside the cafetiere to aerate the milk and do this until you’ve reached the desired consistency. If you have a jug, pour the milk into the jug and give it a tap and a swirl to remove bubbles. Pour this on top of your coffee - maybe even give latte art a go?
You’ve made your espresso base. Now, are you going to drink it short, add water, or milk? Steamed milk is the perfect accompaniment to espresso, but how do you steam milk at home? If you don’t have a milk steamer or milk frother, follow our tips on how to heat and froth milk at home:
Want to pick the best coffee for a bold and intense coffee? Check out our selection.
Noticed that you’ve run out of filter papers but still desperate for that pour over? Here’s how to make a homemade coffee filter using kitchen roll:
1. Take a paper towel and lay flat on a table
2. Fold the paper towel in half (vertically)
3. Fold the paper towel in half again (now in a square)
4. Take the folded paper towel and create a "pocket" for your coffee grinds and place into the coffee pot (where the filter would go)
(For even more elaborate paper folding, check out this video.)
Want to get your hands on some filter papers? View our selection.
Yes, there are hacks to improve your coffee-drinking experience.
- Heat your mugs with boiling water to keep your coffee hotter for longer. Pour in boiling water into your bug before brewing and tip it out before you pour the coffee in. Your cup will stay warm and keep your coffee hot, too!
Want to ensure you always make good coffee at home? Check out our coffee accessories..
Used coffee grounds don’t need to go in the bin, if you’re wondering how to reuse coffee grounds at home, check out these hacks.
- Pour your coffee grounds directly onto the soil around your flowers. This will improve drainage, water retention and aeration in the soil. It will also attract microorganisms and earthworms beneficial to plant growth.
- Face & body scrub. Treat yourself to a pamper session. Simply mix 1 part used coffee grounds with 1 part melted coconut oil, along with ½ tablespoon of salt to create a homemade scrub. Don’t have any coconut oil? Not to worry, we also tried this with olive oil and it worked just as nicely.